Pinus Thunbergii or Japanese Black Pine is a classic outdoor, evergreen species of tree to use for Bonsai purposes and it is also very popular in Japan. They have an upright habit, stiff, dark green needles borne in pairs and dark, fissured bark that gives the trunks an imposing, characterful appearance and increases their popularity.

Native to north-eastern China, Japan and Korea, and it is hardy in most temperate areas. When winter temperatures are likely to fall below -5°C for prolonged periods, protect trees in a frost-free shed or greenhouse. During the growing season place in full sun.

Bonsai Pines dislike permanent moisture so be careful not to over water. Good drainage is necessary.

Please Note: The picture is for guidance only. It is not generally possible to send the tree in the picture. We may need to send you one that's similar in terms of size, shape, pot and age. The appearance of the tree may vary depending on the season.

General Care of Outdoor Bonsai

In many ways outdoor Bonsai can be easier to look after than indoor species. However, here are some general instructions.

Location
All Bonsai need sunlight some will thrive given direct sunlight and other will tolerate some shade (check each species for more information).
Protect the tree during prolonged cold periods. Either in a shed or unheated greenhouse.

Watering
Watering is the key to keeping the bonsai alive. In dry spells water your bonsai regularly ensuring that soil is damp but not soggy wet

Pruning Shoots
Prune new growth regularly to maintain the shape of the bonsai.
If you don't prune often the tree will lose its shape and become straggly.
Prune when new shoots grow which is normally in Spring and Summer.

Pruning Roots or Re-potting
Re-pot or root prune only when the tree gets pot bound,
Usually every two or three years.
Spring is the best time for doing this.
Prune enough roots off to make space for new soil.

Feeding
Feed once a month during the growing season usually Spring- Summer.
Use liquid or pellet fertiliser (always read the label for instructions)

Bonsai Workshops and Classes run by Herons Bonsai
We have been running our bonsai classes and workshops at Herons for over thirty years and they have been the source of inspiration for many bonsai enthusiasts. The sessions are run by one of the Herons team and are held two or three times a month.

What is a Workshop?

All our workshops are hands on sessions for all abilities, ranging from beginner to advanced levels. You can learn any aspect of bonsai in this class. You have a choice of;-

A TWO - HOUR intensive or a WHOLE DAY four hour workshop

The workshops usually start at 11am to 1pm for the Two Hour Intensive and from 11am -4pm (with an hour's break for lunch) for the Whole Day workshop.

Prices - £49 for the Two-Hour Intensive and £69 for the Whole Day workshop.

Prices for the workshops are for instruction only. You can bring your own material to work on or use material from our nursery. If you like what you make on the workshop you simply pay for the material at the end of the class. If you simply wish to use our material to practice on, you are welcome to do that too.

We offer a choice of courses to cater for all abilities. Excellent value considering what you can learn in just a short while.

New dates are posted on our web site each month. You can book a course online or over the phone.

Our workshops teach you all you need to know about a particular subject from how to care for various species to how create them from ordinary trees and shrubs. Our most recent introduction is the semi-trained material workshop. At these workshops you pay an all in price to include the plant material, a pot, all the wires you need and complete tuition.